2013 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees Honored at Homecoming Game

October 19, 2013

The Cheyney University 2013 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees were recognized at a banquet planned in their honor on October 18 and in front of the crowd attending the home game in O’Shields Stadium the next afternoon. The 2013 committee chairs were Don Hackney and Greg McNeil.

Nearly 300 people attended the banquet which was held at the Concordville Inn.According to Co-Chairman McNeil, “We were excited with this year’s turnout. The banquet is a great Cheyney University tradition where we can honor athletes and their outstanding accomplishments. The honorees are recognized for their achievements, either while at Cheyney University or afterwards.This year’s honorees Bill Ellerbee and Ed Williams, for example, accomplished a lot after they graduated.”

Former basketball players dominated the roster this year. Honoree Bill Ellerbee, ’70, was head basketball coach at Simon Gratz when his 1990-91 team was named national champion in the final ESPN high school poll and the 1992-93 team finished with a 31-0 record and was named national champions by USA Today. During his career, Ellerbee coached some outstanding players including Rasheed Wallace, Aaron McKie, Levan Alston and Lynard Stewart and was named Philadelphia Public League Coach of the Year in 1991, State of Pennsylvania Coach of the Year in 1993 and 1997, and National Coach of the Year by ESPN in 1993. After retiring from Simon Gratz, he was assistant coach for four years at Temple University under Hall of Fame coach John Chaney.

Another basketball standout, Ed Williams ’63, member of the All-State team and Wolves MVP, played for four years at Cheyney and, as team captain, broke the conference scoring record and record for field goals and foul shots in a season, tallying 381 points in 15 games. Williams was also successful off the court, and was the first CU alumnus to be named chief academic officer in the School District of Philadelphia.

Jamal Springfield, a Chester High product, graduated from Cheyney in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science degree in recreation and leisure studies. He was a four-year starting guard (1993-97). He led the team in assists. In 1995, he was named PSAC Defensive Player of the Year while leading the conference in steals. He also led the Wolves to the PSAC championship during the 1995-96 season.

Daryl Coates played football for the Wolves in 1981 and 1982 earning All-PSAC honors as a wide receiver in 1982. He is currently serving the Philadelphia community as the executive director of the Philadelphia Anti-Drug/Anti-Violence Network.

Patricia Bartley-Walker played basketball for Hall of Fame coach Vivian Stringer during her days at Cheyney. She was a three-year starter and captain during her senior year. She was also a marvelous tennis player. Bartley-Walker graduated from Cheyney in 1976. She went on to coach for Cheyney's tennis, volleyball and Division 1 basketball teams. In addition, Bartley-Walker teaches at CU and operates the Society’s Promise program, a mentoring program in Chester

Tanya Slayton-Barnes, a 2003 alumnus, earned varsity letters in four sports (basketball, volleyball, track and tennis). As a senior, she received the Presidential Award.

Two athletes were recognized posthumously. Ronald Ford, ’63, was point guard and team captain for his final three years at CU, and briefly played professionally and coached at Overbrook High School for several years. His wife, Cristal, accepted his award. And finally, the late Vernon Greer, a member of the Wolves' basketball team for two seasons, was honored. He was instrumental in leading Cheyney to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship during the 1971-72 season. Greer went on to become a teacher and assistant women’s coach at Camden High School in Camden, N.J.